Important Dates
Student Resources
This page will help you access your textbooks, publisher courseware, access codes, and support resources through the Wildcat Flex Advantage program.
Accessing Course Materials in Canvas
Using the VitalSource Link
- Log in to Canvas and open your course.
- Select VitalSource from the left-hand navigation menu.
- Your course materials should appear as book cards.
- Select the available button, such as:
- Read Book
- Launch Courseware
- Reveal Access Code
If you can see your book but there is no button, look for a publisher link in the course navigation.
Using a Publisher Link
Publisher links may be labeled with the publisher's name, including:
- McGraw-Hill
- Pearson
- Hawkes Learning
- Cengage
- Or another publisher
Select the publisher link and follow the prompts to access your textbook or courseware.
If you do not see a publisher link on the left navigation, check your course modules.
- Select Modules.
- Look for a module titled Textbook, Course Materials, or something similar.
- If none exists, review assignment links that may take you directly to the publisher's website.
Once you're on the publisher's website, you should have access to your textbook, assignments, and other course materials.
If no textbook or publisher link is available, confirm with your syllabus or instructor that your course requires a textbook. If it does and materials are still unavailable, contact The Exchange.
Reveal an Access Code
- Select Reveal Access Code in VitalSource.
- A panel will open displaying your access code.
- Copy the code.
- Paste it into the publisher's website when prompted.
- Begin using your course materials.
Courses That Use Publisher Courseware
If your course uses publisher courseware:
- Select the publisher link in the left navigation, or
- Select Launch Courseware from the VitalSource page, or
- Open the publisher link located in your course modules.
Courses That Use Publisher Courseware
eBook
A digital version of your textbook used primarily for reading.
Courseware
An interactive learning platform that may include:
- Homework
- Quizzes
- Gradebook integration
- Videos
- Adaptive learning tools
Many courseware platforms also include the eBook within the learning platform.
Opting Out of Wildcat Flex Advantage
Students are automatically enrolled in the Wildcat Flex Advantage program each semester to ensure course materials are available by the first day of class.
During the official add/drop period, students may choose to opt out.
If You Opt Out
- You must opt out of all eligible courses.
- You become responsible for purchasing your own course materials.
- You may purchase textbooks through the LCU White-Label VitalSource Store.
- Use your syllabus to verify the correct textbook before purchasing.
- You will immediately lose access to your VitalSource materials.
- You may opt back in at any time during the add/drop period.
- Once the add/drop period ends, your selection is final.
Important: Courses that use publisher courseware often require immediate digital access. Students enrolled in these courses are strongly encouraged to remain opted in.
Troubleshooting
My book is not showing.
- Check the VitalSource link.
- Check for a publisher link.
- Verify your course uses a textbook.
- Confirm you are officially enrolled in the course.
My access code does not work.
- Verify the entire code was copied.
- Launch the publisher site through Canvas first.
- Contact the publisher if prompted.
My access code does not work.
Always launch publisher content through Canvas. Opening a publisher's website directly may result in a paywall.
Who to Contact
The Exchange
Email: textbooks@lcuniversity.edu
Contact The Exchange for:
- Missing course materials
- Textbook access
- Opt-out questions
- ISBN information
- Paywall concerns
Your Professor
Use your LCU Outlook email account to contact your instructor regarding:
- Broken course links
- Course setup issues
- Assignment questions
- Grade syncing
Canvas Support
Publisher Support
Use the support resources provided on your publisher's website for:
- Publisher website issues
- Invalid access codes
What is an OER?
OER stands for Open Educational Resources. These are free educational materials provided by instructors or publishers at no cost to students.
OER materials may be available as:
- Content directly within Canvas
- Downloadable PDFs
- External websites
- Publisher-hosted resources
Your instructor will provide access instructions if your course uses OER materials.
How does billing work?"
The Wildcat Flex Advantage fee is credit-hour-enrollment per textbook status. If a textbook is used in 12-18 hours of a student's schedule, that student is billed $400. If a textbook is used in fewer than 12 credit hours of their schedule, the student is billed $25/credit hour for which a book is used.
Examples:
- If a student is taking 15 credit hours (5, 3-credit-hour courses) and 4 or more of their classes use a textbook, they will be charged $400.00.
- If a student is taking 15 credit hours (5, 3-credit-hour courses) and fewer than 4 of their classes use a textbook, they will be charged $25 per credit hour.
- If a student's schedule reflects textbook usage in more than 18 credit hours, they will pay $400 + $25 per credit hour for every hour over 18 that uses a textbook.
How to Opt Out
- Confirm with your teacher that your course does not use courseware.
- Within your Canvas course, navigate to the VitalSource tab and select "Opt Out."